TRAVEL CLUB FOR INVERCARGILL?

Southland Times, Issue 23781, 31 March 1939, Page 8

TRAVEL CLUB FOR INVERCARGILL?

PROPOSAL MADE TO PROGRESS LEAGUE HELPING TOURISTS TO SEE THE CITY The establishment of a travel club in conjunction with the Southland Progress League was discussed at a meeting of the league last evening. A letter was received from Mr W. F. Sturman, town clerk, who at the request ot a member of the league had made inquiries about the functions of travel clubs in the north. Mr Sturman wrote that in New Plymouth and Napier there were Thirty Thousand clubs and in Dunedin there was a travel club. The function of the Dunedin club appeared to be in looking after visitors to the city and the New Plymouth and Napier clubs in addition to that function had an organization by which they could obtain private .cars for showing visitors over the district. They also distributed literature showing the attractions of the district. , x . The chairman (Mr G. M. Broughton) said that the main function of the club would be to make known to tourists the existence of certain institutions in Invercargill—the rooms of the Automobile Association and Southland Progress League and other places. The club could go further and meet tourists at Bluff and show them where the places of interest were. A booklet giving information about the city could be handed out. Mr H. F. Drewe: Could we give travellers any more information than they are getting from the Tourist Department? Mr A. E. Smith said there was a travel club in Auckland which was run by women. He understood the object of that club was to invite overseas visitors to address club members. The secretary (Mr J. S. Dick) produced a booklet which was issued by the league a few years ago. They were distributed regularly, he said, but there were only about 200 left. The booklet showed all the places of interest in Invercargill and there were articles about Southland and also general information. Mr C. Campbell suggested that the league seek the co-operation of the Bluff Progressive League in the attention. given to tourists. WITHIN THE LEAGUE Mr J. R. Hanan said it would be difficult to be specific about a travel club but it should work within the framework of the league. Something should be done to welcome tourists and - show them round the city. The league j could co-operate with the Bluff Progressive League to see that visitors | were catered for. I The chairman: We should try to get j visitors into the habit of looking for | the league rooms. ! Mr J. L. Mair suggested that a sticker ; be put on the booklet inviting visitors j to the league rooms. At Mr A. Hamilton’s suggestion it , was decided to hold the matter over | for a few months. He said it was pos- i sible that something would be done | soon. I . It was also agreed to write to the | Bluff league asking its co-operation in the welcoming of tourists to Southland. There were present at the meeting: Messrs G. M. Broughton (president), J. R. Hanan, W. G. Tait, J. Fraser, J. Pickard, A. W. Hamilton, A. E. Smith, i C. Campbell, J. K. Garrett, T. J. Boyce, J. L. Mair, H. F. Drewe, H. C. Gimblett and T. W. Richards and Dr D. Jennings. TOURISTS FROM AMERICA A letter was received from the director of the South Islands Travel Association (Mr J. J. W. Pollard) giving advice of the visit of parties of tourists from North America.

“Two parties are coming from North America this winter through bookings by Miss Sykes,” wrote Mr Pollard. “In addition we expect more people from Honolulu. We have been working in North America to give the travel agencies information about the South Island and Miss Sykes reports a livelier interest all round in this region, so that bookings for the South Island will come through them. Some of these agencies now include in their itineraries ‘New Zealand (South Island),’ which is an indication that our operations are having an effect.” The support of the league was sought for a petition which was to be forwarded to the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) by residents of the Haldane district asking to have preserved in its native state a block of bush situated on the northern side of the Tokanui-Haldane-Curio Bay road. “We already have informed the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Invercargill that we would be seeking your support for we felt the league would be interested in saving what is unquestionably one of the most delightful bush scenes in Southland or Otago,” wrote Mr A. U. Ericson, of Haldane.

It was agreed to support the petition. The chairman reported on the visit of the deputation from the league to the Wallace County Council about the construction of the Blackmount-Red-cliffs road. He expressed the hope that something further would be done to have the road completed.

Mr A. E. Smith said it was vital to Invercargill that the road be made, otherwise the tourists going through the Homer Tunnel would never .be seen in Invercargill.

it was aeciaea io communicate wun the Southland County Council asking it to make a road instead of a track to Fortrose beach.